The House Transportation Committee convened on January 16, 2025, to address critical issues surrounding traffic safety in Washington State. The meeting featured presentations from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, highlighting alarming trends in road fatalities and the effectiveness of current safety measures.

Shelley Baldwin, the acting director of the commission, opened the discussion by emphasizing the agency's role and structure, which includes ten commissioners from various state departments. Baldwin noted that the commission is primarily funded by federal sources, allowing it to implement programs aimed at reducing risky driving behaviors, including impaired and distracted driving.

A significant focus of the meeting was the troubling increase in traffic fatalities. Baldwin reported that Washington experienced 809 fatalities in 2023, marking the highest number since 1990. This figure represents a 50% increase from 2019 and is attributed to various factors, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, 2023 was the first year since 1980 that Washington's fatality rate exceeded the national average.

The commission presented data indicating that impaired driving remains a major contributor to fatalities, accounting for over half of the deaths. The statistics revealed that 61% of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their systems, often in combination with cannabis. Furthermore, young drivers aged 15 to 24 were disproportionately represented in these incidents, with fatalities involving this age group increasing by 74% over the past decade.

Baldwin also discussed the results of a statewide survey of road users, which gathered over 21,000 responses. The survey revealed concerning trends in driver behavior, including that nearly 71% of respondents admitted to speeding at least once in the past month. Additionally, a significant portion of drivers reported engaging in distracted driving behaviors, such as using a cell phone while driving.

The meeting concluded with a call for continued efforts to address these issues through data collection and targeted safety programs. The commission aims to enhance public awareness and enforcement measures to combat the rising trend of traffic fatalities in Washington. The committee plans to further discuss these findings and potential legislative responses in upcoming sessions.